German FA HQ raided by police in bribery probe days after shock World Cup exit
Police have carried out a major raid on the headquarters of Germany’s football federation, the DFB, in a probe into suspected bribery relating to Euro 2024.
The raid on Wednesday morning – 36 hours after the men’s national team suffered a shock elimination from the current World Cup by Paraguay – involved more than 150 police officers searching the offices of the DFB in Frankfurt, town halls in multiple Germany cities which hosted matches at the tournament, and companies.
They are investigating whether officials from the cities received freebies including match tickets, travel and hotel stays from the DFB, which could be classed as bribery.
“A football ticket is not part of a salary,” said Germany’s interior minister Herbert Reul. “Anyone in public service who holds out their hand can expect a visit from us.”
The probe into the perks, including tickets to the Euro 2024 semi-final between France and Spain, who went on to beat England in the final, is reported to centre on two individuals linked to the tournament’s organising committee.
It is the latest controversy to envelop the DFB, which has faced repeated scrutiny over the last decade from authorities over its financial dealings.
DFB’s history of controversy
A joint statement from local police and prosecutors said: “The subject of the investigation is allegedly granted unauthorised benefits – including in the form of attendance at an international football match – which an accused individual, who was working for a host city at the time, is said to have received from those responsible within the organising society.
“In addition, those responsible within the organizing society are alleged to have offered the host cities exclusive pre-emption rights (priority purchasing rights) for tickets, which were partially utilized by the host cities and used in various ways.
“On July 1, 2026 investigators from the Bochum Public Prosecutor’s Office and the NRW State Criminal Police Office, with the support of local police authorities, conducted searches at several locations across the federal territory. The accused have not yet had an opportunity to comment on the allegations. The presumption of innocence applies.”
It comes amid fresh turbulence at the DFB following Monday’s World Cup exit on penalties to Paraguay in the round of 32 – meaning they have failed to reach the last 16 since lifting the trophy in 2014.
DFB president Wolfgang Niersbach resigned in 2015 following claims that the German bid committee bribed Fifa officials to secure hosting rights to the 2006 World Cup. Since then the DFB has also been investigated on suspicion of tax fraud for allegedly disguising revenue from perimeter advertising.